We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Lindsay West a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Lindsay, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
In the early stages of my nursing career, I was diagnosed a thyroid disorder. Despite having only two years of experience as a nurse, I was already experiencing the symptoms of burnout. My hair was falling out, I was gaining weight unexpectedly and battling digestive issues. I was prescribed pharmaceuticals, accompanied by the prognosis that I would be reliant on medication for the rest of my life. This prognosis ignited a determination within me to discover the root cause of my “disorder.” My journey towards healing began with an elimination diet-style cleanse, during which I learned my body was highly reactive to gluten, dairy, soy, and corn. I overhauled my diet, had a consultation with a naturopath who recommended the proper supplements, integrated regular exercise into my routine, adopted a meditation practice, and transitioned to natural personal care products. The transformative outcome was that I no longer required medication to manage my thyroid condition. This experience ignited a fervor in me to question and investigate everything, to never accept information at face value. I adopted a philosophy of conducting my own research and applying the methodology to facilitate genuine healing. This newfound perspective extended beyond my personal life and seeped into my professional choices. I started making decisions that prioritized my well-being, both personally and in my nursing career. This led me to transition to less stressful job opportunities, fostering a healthier work-life balance.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I am a dedicated advocate for health and wellness, a mother of three, and a caregiver for my elderly grandfather. In 2012, I embarked on a mission to weave wellness into both my personal and professional life. Becoming a mother in 2015 brought the need for meticulous organization and unwavering determination to prioritize self-care in my personal life. A pivotal moment occurred when my son was just five months old when I underwent a transformative experience—a training that profoundly impacted me on a personal and professional level: the Arvigo Mayan Abdominal Therapy self-care massage course. During this course, I learned that the womb is not only a physical but also an emotional and spiritual repository for women. The physical and emotional healing I experienced was so profound that I decided to pursue the professional course to share this healing with others. Balancing my nursing career, family responsibilities, and Arvigo practitioner training on weekends was challenging, but my interest in spirituality led
me to undertake a Reiki Level 1 course, enriching my spiritual journey. In 2018, I made a significant career shift by joining an IV vitamin infusion center as my primary job. This transition was a revelation, as it finally aligned my professional environment with my personal health choices. My family relocated to care for my elderly grandparents, and shortly thereafter, I became pregnant with my first daughter. An encounter at a spiritual fair, where I received a complimentary Reiki session, led to a deep friendship with a Reiki master who mentored me in my journey to become a Reiki practitioner. This experience reinforced my decision to follow my intuition and bolstered my meditation practice as I began practicing Reiki professionally. Following the birth of my daughter, I took a hiatus from my professional career to focus on nurturing her and subsequently became pregnant with my third child. Now, I am in the process of co-founding an IV vitamin infusion business, actIVate Wellness Infusions, as I make my return to the professional arena. I take great pride in infusing my passion for health and wellness into this venture, demonstrating my ability to seamlessly integrate wellness principles into my business model.
If you could go back, would you choose the same profession, specialty, etc.?
I would definitely select the same profession, as all the choices I have made and the paths I followed require me to maintain a nursing license. Nursing is not just a career; it’s a calling for healers and individuals with a profound passion for aiding others.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When my first child was just three months old, my family began experiencing unusual symptoms such as rashes, hair loss, and brain fog. After an extensive research effort, we ultimately identified toxic black mold in our apartment, which forced us to vacate our rented home. This predicament coincided with the end of my maternity leave, depleting our savings, and making it impossible for us to cover the substantial realtor and broker fees required for securing a new apartment. As first-time parents, we found ourselves essentially homeless with an infant to care for. Incredibly, one of my best friends graciously offered us refuge, albeit in a different state, necessitating a move from New Jersey to Florida. My husband had sustained a knee injury that was subsequently linked to mold toxins in the fluid surrounding his knee joint. This injury rendered him unable to continue his work as a personal trainer and athletic instructor. Consequently, I had to enroll our son in daycare and take on full-time employment to provide for our family. Despite the adversity, I managed to maintain a positive attitude and keep an open mind regarding my life choices and trajectory.
We pursued holistic healing methods for the mold toxicity, eventually achieving recovery, and my husband eventually healed from his knee injury, enabling him to return to work. Just as we were on the path to recovery, and celebrating my 33rd birthday, my mother received a stage 4 breast cancer diagnosis. We relocated once more to provide care for her during this challenging time.
Throughout these immense challenges, I persevered and supported my family both financially and emotionally, refusing to succumb to adversity. I’ve come to understand that everything occurs for a purpose and that it’s crucial to never abandon one’s dreams, regardless of the obstacles that life may throw in your path.
My aspiration is to empower individuals to prioritize their health and make decisions that align with their unique journeys. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to assist a broader audience in achieving this through my new business venture.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.actIVatewellnessinfusions.com
- Instagram: @activatewellnessinfusions
- Facebook: @activatewellnessinfusions